If you're suffering from the winter blues, there's no better place to be than New York in early November. Why? Because that's when the annual Comedy Festival hits town and whether you like your laughs political, slapstick, subversive or slick, there'll be someone to tickle your funny bone at one of eight venues across the city.
It goes without saying that if you're laughing 'til the tears start flowing, your mascara needs to be waterproof and then some – try Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume  Waterproof formula to avoid seriously comedy panda eyes!
If all that still hasn't cheered you up, then there's more. The end of the month signals the start of what's called Holiday Season over here. The lights get switched on, the displays go up and, before you get a chance to get excited about Christmas, there's the small matter of Thanksgiving to be dealt with.
While many New Yorkers head out of town to spend the weekend with their families, increasingly young urban hipsters are staying put and organising 'Orphan Thanksgivings' – Thanksgiving parties with friends and none of the stress of long distance travel or families. Whether you are in town or not, make sure you catch a little of the annual Thanksgiving parade (on TV if you can't make it down in person) – complete with floats, marching bands and huge balloons. If that and a slice of pumpkin pie don't warm your cockles, you must have a heart of stone!